Nutraceuticals International articles from June 2006

Nutraceuticals International archives from June 2006

EU Parliament's vote on fortified foods welcomed by Commissioner Kyprianou.
June 1, 2006... The European Parliament's vote last month for tougher rules on health claims for fortified foods (NI vol 11, no 5) has been welcomed by Markos Kyprianou, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection. This legislation will lay down...

UK rules for filled gelatine capsules.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... In response to industry representations, the UK's Food Standards Agency has written to importation enforcers (Customs officials, etc) to explain the immediate introduction of a relaxation in the requirement for the importation of filled...

Rising interest in cholesterol treatments drives Europe's phytosterol sales.
June 1, 2006... Heart diseases account for approximately 50% of all mortalities in the industrialized world. With one of the major risk factors for heart disease being elevated cholesterol levels, particularly low-density lipoprotein (LDL), there is an...

UK's FSA seeks views on phytosterols.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The UK Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes is seeking views on its draft opinion on an application to market a phytosterol ingredient extracted from tall oil. Tall oil is derived from sources such as pine trees. Before any new...

SACN report on folate and disease delayed.
June 1, 2006... The publication of the UK's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition's (SACN) report on folate and disease has been delayed. The Committee has requested further time to consider the potential risks and benefits of increased folic acid...

Chemicals in baby foods; UK FSA survey.
June 1, 2006... The UK Food Standards Agency has published a survey into levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 208 samples of baby food and infant milk formula on sale in the country at the time of sampling. Overall levels found were very low or...

Lithuania health food claims questioned.
June 1, 2006... Lithuania's food safety watchdog says that some food producers in the country are adding labels to their products falsely, claiming that these are organic or have health-giving properties, according to Baltic Business News. The State Food and...

Poland's vit/minerals and OTC markets.
June 1, 2006... According to the latest report from research group Pharmaceutical Market Analysts, "The OTC market in Poland 2006," the size of the overall over-the-counter medicines pharmacy market in Poland in 2005 amounted to 5.5 billion zlotys ($1.69...

EU health claims and accompanying legislation - time lines.
June 1, 2006... The proposed European Union regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims now appears to be on course to become law by the end of 2006 following very protracted discussions. The new law is going to have a significant impact on the marketing of...

USA's FDA finalizes rule and will allow health claim on barley products.
June 1, 2006... The US Food and Drug Administration announced last month that it has finalized a rule that allows foods containing barley to claim that they reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Specifically, the rules states that whole grain barley and...

Negative reactions to US NIH recommendations on MVMs for chronic disease prevention.
June 1, 2006... The Conference on Multivitamin/Mineral Supplements and Chronic Disease Prevention held by the US National Institutes of Health (see also page 10) "illustrates the problem of using selective scientific information to arrive at one-sided...

New three-year term for EFSA Scientific Committee and Panels.(European Food Safety Authority)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... On June 2, 191 scientists start working for the European Food Safety Authority Scientific Committee and Panels for a new three-year mandate. This follows a decision by the EFSA Management Board on the nomination of experts for the new term. In...

EC consults on maximum and minimum amounts of vits/minerals in foodstuffs.
June 1, 2006... The European Commission has launched a consultation on the setting of maximum and minimum amounts of vitamins and minerals in foodstuffs. This sets consumer safety and informed choice as its major priorities for establishing European Union-wide...

US NIH panel urges informed approach to MVMs for chronic diseases prevention.
June 1, 2006... An independent panel convened by the USA's National Instututes for Health Office of Medical Applications of Research and the Office of Dietary Supplements assessed the available evidence on the safety and effectiveness of multivitamin/minerals...

Health Canada appro for Martek's DHA oil.
June 1, 2006... Canadians may soon find it easier than ever to get healthy omega-3 fatty acids in their diets, says Martek Biosciences, pointing out that one of its chief omega-3 products, DHASCO-T oil, has been approved by the country's regulator, Health...

Outcome of Codex on additives meeting.
June 1, 2006... The General Standard for Food Additives (GFSA) is currently being revised by the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (CCFAC) following concerns about the level of exposure to certain additives. Data on the technological need...

Keystone Forum reports to FDA on away-from-home and managing calories.
June 1, 2006... The US Food and Drug Administration has received a report that it claims could help American industry and consumers take important steps to successfully combat the nation's obesity problem. The report is titled, the "Keystone Forum on...

FDA "no" to Nestle qualified health claim.
June 1, 2006... The US Food and Drug Administration has rejected a petition by the US subsidiary of Switzerland-headquartered foods giant Nestle with respect to a qualified health claim for one of its infant formula products. In a petition submitted to...

Australia's thriving green tea market boosted by innovative products.
June 1, 2006... In the past year, green tea has become a leading performer and the main driver of growth in the Australian tea market, following substantial media publicity extolling green tea's health benefits. This has been aided by statements of possible...

Oz Ministry proposal for food labeling.
June 1, 2006... A Weight Watchers-style food labeling system has been proposed by the Federal Health Minister, to tackle the obesity problem in Australians, young and old. Minister Tony Abbott stated: "the proposed labels would not be as gory as the graphic...

Growing importance of diet for good health boosts specialty nutrition prods.
June 1, 2006... Rising awareness of the role of diet in promoting good health, high health care costs and increasing importance of personal fitness are some of the key factors driving the growth of the specialty nutrition market. Incidents such as the avian...

S Africa: new aims for self-regulation.(South Africa)(Health Product Association of Southern Africa)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The Health Product Association of Southern Africa (HPA) says it is continuing to negotiate with South Africa's Department of Health to implement acceptable and appropriate regulation of complementary medicine. At the same time it adds, the...

Menopausal women do not get enough guidance on treatment options.
June 1, 2006... Few women are consulting their doctors before opting to use herbal therapies and soy products to treat their menopausal symptoms, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine, USA, have found. The trend is of particular note...

China's nutraceutical market driven by more health care awareness.
June 1, 2006... Increasing interest surrounding the benefits of nutraceuticals is driving their use in China, according to a new study by market research firm Frost & Sullivan. Government policies aimed at liberalizing previous restrictions on health food...

Metals in herbal medicines like Ayurveda "not harmful, says Indian research center.
June 1, 2006... Metals that are probably found in herbal medicines such as Ayurveda are not harmful, according to a research center at south India's Sastra University. Researchers from the University's Center for Advanced Research in Indian System of Medicine...

Wild blueberry may have role in anti-aging.
June 1, 2006... New research from the US National Institute on Aging demonstrates that natural compounds available in wild blueberries increased lifespan and slowed aging-related declines in a whole organism. Working with elegans, an invertebrate model of...

Meta-analysis shows Padma effective in PAD.
June 1, 2006... A meta-analysis of 19 published clinical trials on Padma Basic, a Tibetan herbal formula marketed by EcoNugenics, has concluded that the preparation is safe and effective in providing significant relief for a common vascular condition -...

UCSF study to examine if probiotics can prevent asthma in children.
June 1, 2006... In the first effort of its kind in the USA, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, have launched a study to determine whether giving active probiotic supplements to infants can delay or prevent asthma in children. The study...

Study: cancer benefit of SOD/gliadin.
June 1, 2006... US research-based nutraceuticals firm Millennium Biotechnologies says that a recently-published study in the British Journal of Cancer has shown the functionality and benefits in cancer associated with SOD/gliadin, an important component in...

Danisco to launch low-fat ice cream in Europe.
June 1, 2006... Danish food ingredients firm Danisco has announced the European launch of Cremodan LF IcePro, a low-fat ice cream product that is specially formulated to prevent the formation of unwanted ice crystals. Traditionally, the distinctive "mouthfeel"...

Bioriginal announces BioPure DHA.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Canada's Bioriginal, a leading supplier of essential fatty acid solutions for the nutraceuticals, functional food, skin care and cosmetics markets, says it has launched an exclusively sourced premium fish oil product, BioPure DHA. BioPure...

OlivActiv unveiled at Vitafoods 2006.
June 1, 2006... USA-based Glanbia Nutritionals has announced the launch of its new product OlivActiv, an antioxidant extracted from olive fruit at Vitafoods 2006, held last month in Geneva, Switzerland. The compound, which was developed in a collaboration with...

LTP agrees Oliba distribution deal.(Lipid Technologies Provider )(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Sweden's Lipid Technologies Provider AB says that it has signed a distribution agreement with French supplement developer Laboratoire Physcience, which awards the latter rights to market its weight management product Oliba in several European...

Parmalat launches Clesa Bifidus Activo in Spain.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Italian dairy giant Parmalat says that its Spanish subsidiary has launched Clesa Bifidus Activo, a rebranded version of its older range of drinkable functional yogurts. The firm said that the new product incorporates both new functional...

New Superman vitamin range premiered.
June 1, 2006... UK-based health and sports supplement developer bio-synergy has announced that launch of the Superman effervescent multivitamin range. The product, which is being made available prior to the July release of the film Superman Returns, is...

CLA "reduces fat mass without exercise".(conjugated linoleic acid)
June 1, 2006... US firm Lipid Nutrition has revealed its latest results on Clarinol CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) at the Digestive Disease Week) 2006 held last month in Los Angeles, USA. These showed that Clarinol CLA reduces fat mass in particular locations...

Sho-saiko-to in Ph I as hepatitis C therapy.
June 1, 2006... An estimated five million Americans have been infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), according to a study published at the Liver Meeting by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in November 2005. Chronic hepatitis C is...

Vital Living posts first operating profit.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Vital Living of Phoenix, Arizona, USA, which develops and markets nutraceuticals distributed through health care professionals, has reported financials for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006, which show that revenues increased 6% to just...

Forbes now reliant on Reducol for revenues.
June 1, 2006... Canada's Forbes Medi-Tech has reported a 10% dip in revenues for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006, to C$900,000 ($801810), while net income reached C$3.3 million, or C$0.09 per share, compared with a loss of $2.5 million, or C$0.07 per...

Canada's Fytokem enjoys profitable qtr.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Fytokem Products, a Canadian company which manufactures and markets functional plant extracts for use in the nutraceutical industry, among others, has reported its results for the quarter ended March 31, 2006. Net income was C$26,000...

Hawaii's Cyanotech reflects on tough year.
June 1, 2006... Hawaii-based Cyanotech Corp, which develops and markets natural products from microalgae, has posted its results for the fiscal fourth quarter ended March 31, 2006, which show that sales rose 27% to $3.3 million. Net income reached $194,000...

Soaljo SRL launches SA herb extracts in USA.
June 1, 2006... Argentinian herbal extract manfacturer Soaljo SRL says that it has developed and started marketing an "exclusive and innovative line" of South American herbal extracts for the domestic market. The firm already manufactures and distributes...

Four Natrol brands top US market.
June 1, 2006... Chatsworth, California, USA-based Natrol, a Nasdaq-listed manufacturer and distributor of nationally-branded nutritional products, has achieved top-selling positions for its brands of melatonin, Ester-C, dehydroepiandrosterone and...

GPC introduces TruBran at IFT 2006.
June 1, 2006... USA-headquartered Grain Processing Corp has said that it will introduce its new TruBran corn bran at the 2006 Insititure of Food Technologist's annual meeting in Orlando, USA. The firm says that its new dietary fiber product will be...

Think Thin debuts two new flavors.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Ventura, California, USA-headquartered Think Products, a maker of all- natural, high-protein, low-carbohydrate snack bars, has launched two new flavors in its Think Thin range in domestic stores nationwide: Lemon Sorbet and White Chocolate...

Chr Hansen's US ops restructured.(restructuring of Danish group )(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Following Danish group Chr Hansen's change from a functional to a divisional organization last year, the company has now taken the next step and fully aligned its North American organization to the rest of the worldwide business. This also...

DMV Int acquires Argentinean firm.
June 1, 2006... DMV International, through its parent company Campina, has bought Argentinean dairy ingredient specialist Inovatech Argentina SA. The acquisition creates new growth opportunities for DMV. With Inovatech, DMV will strengthen its market position...

Danisco/Novozymes reach settlement.
June 1, 2006... Danish groups Danisco A/S and Novozymes A/S have announced that a settlement has been reached in the dispute concerning the entitlement to patent rights for certain types of baking enzyme (lipases), and infringement of patent rights for the...

Godrey buys India's Nutrine for $59M.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... India-based Godrey Foods has teamed up with the equity fund, IL & FS Investment Managers, to buy privately-held Indian firm Nutrine Confectionary for 2.7 billion rupees ($59.0 million), making this the largest brand acquisition in the country's...

Leiner's fiscal 2006 sales drop 2.2%, despite PFI.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... California, USA-based Leiner Health Products says that, for the quarter ended March 25, 2006, it achieved net sales of $173.8 million, a 0.4% drop on the same period in fiscal 2005. The firm says that the modest growth it saw in US turnover,...

Martek signs 15-yr DHA supply deal with G Mills.
June 1, 2006... Martek Biosciences Corp has entered into a 15-year license and supply agreement for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with General Mills, a fellow USA-based processed foods giant. In midday trading on the Nasdaq, shares in Maryland-based Martek surged...

Fjordlaks/Borregaard in major omega-3 accord.
June 1, 2006... Seafood company Fjordlaks has entered into a long-term strategic agreement for omega-3 oils with fellow Norway-based Borregaard. The former will deliver high quality crude fish oils to be refined and marketed by Borregaard's wholly-owned...

Arrovest bids for So Natural, shares rise 40%.
June 1, 2006... Arrovest, a privately-held family investment firm, has made a A$0.50 per share bid for soy-based So Natural Foods, which pushed the latter's share price up 40%, reports the Australian Associated Press. So Natural says it will consider the offer...

Martek's 2nd-qtr revenues hit $70.2M.
June 1, 2006... USA-based Martek Biosciences says that its revenues for the second quarter of 2006, ended April 30, were up 26% to $70.2 million, largely due to the growth of the company's infant formula in the US and Asian markets. The firm also reported that...

Vitiva sees 250% 1st-qtr sales growth.
June 1, 2006... Slovenian nutraceuticals company Vitiva says that it saw 250% growth in sales for the first quarter of 2006, partially driven by its involvement in several joint ventures with large pharmaceutical firms in Europe, the Middle East and the...

Polinat and PLT enter strategic alliance.
June 1, 2006... Spanish natural products research specialists Polifenoles Naturales SL (Polinat) and US nutraceuticals firm PL Thomas say that they have formed a strategic alliance to carry out the development and marketing of unique ingredients for the food...

Earthquake may hit Numico's 2006 profits.
June 1, 2006... According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Dutch nutritional supplement developer Numico NV says that the recent earthquake in Indonesia caused significant damage to two of the firm's manufacturing plants located in the region. The...

USA's Nutrition 21 confident that it can convert Chromax into "the new calcium".(sales and earnings)
June 1, 2006... The USA's Nutrition 21, which specializes in chromium-based nutritional supplements, has posted a 4.2% decrease in revenues for its fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2006, to $2.5 million, while its net loss was $2.3 million, or $0.06 per...

Natrol spreads its wings with UK subsidiary.
June 1, 2006... Dietary supplements firm Natrol is expanding its operations outside the USA and has set up its first international subsidiary in the UK. Explaining the rationale behind the move, chief executive Wayne Bos noted that with less than 10% of...

Forthcoming meetings/events.
June 1, 2006... Nutritional Health Foods & Dietary Supplements Market in Thailand, which is organized by the Asia Business Forum, takes place July 27-28 at the InterContinental Bangkok. For further information, visit the group's web site at: www.abf-asia.com....

People on the move.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... - UK Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has appointed two new members to the Food Standards Agency: Ian Reynolds, who has a strong science, regulatory and health care background and has held both executive and non-executive roles across the...